Art Therapy at Creative Sky Psychology
Calgary Child Psychologist and Art Therapy
What is Art Therapy?
Creative Sky Psychology offers Art Therapy in combination with Child and Teen Psychology. Art Therapy is an evidenced-based approach used by a Child Psychologist to help children and teens gain insight and express a wide variety of issues. Many children and teens have difficulties expressing their emotions and thoughts and benefit from having an outlet of expression. Art is often a fun activity for many children, which helps with therapeutic engagement.
Art Therapy can be used to observe and gain insight into a child or teen’s underlying emotions and difficulties by interpreting the nonverbal symbols, messages, and metaphors in a child's artistic expression. This can be used to understand the feelings and possible underlying causes of their behaviours. While engaged in art, children and teens often lose a layer of self-consciousness and begin to open up as they access the emotional side of their brain. Some children and teens lack insight into their own thoughts and feelings. Art Therapy can help create a bridge; increasing awareness, openness, and the ability to heal. Art therapy allows for various thoughts and feelings to surface, leading to increased growth, wellness, and understanding.
Our Child and Teen Psychologists use a blended approach of Art Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help children understand how their thoughts and feelings interact, while using artistic expression. We find that children learn best when they are engaged in a strength-based activity. Art is often an interest based activity for children and works best in this context. At Creative Sky Psychology, we use a strength-based psychology approach to build skills and work on goals.
We offer workshops for health professionals on using art and cognitive therapy techniques with teens and children. Art Therapy can be helpful for children with regulation challenges, social issues, Anxiety, ADHD, Executive Function Challenges, and ASD. For additional information on Child Psychology workshops located in Calgary, AB visit our Child Art and Play Therapy workshop page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Ages Can Art Therapy Be Used For?
Art therapy can be used for all ages. Art is often one of the first ways a child learns how to communicate, as they develop visual representations of their world. Art Therapists gain valuable insights to these visual representations through art and can help explore narratives of themes or difficulties. Children and teens learn to create art that is explorative and meaning making. At times children or teens may be self-conscious about their art which allows for additional trust building and processing in session. Many children and teens do very well communicating through drawing, colouring, painting, and sculpting or a combination of art and talk therapy. Many children also may be unable or unwilling to have a conversation with a therapist, but are able to express themselves through art.
5 Reasons Art Therapy Could be Right for your Child or Teen
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Your child or teen hasn't developed the vocabulary to describe a traumatic event that has occurred
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Your child or teen is not comfortable to verbally share their thoughts, fears, anxieties with the outside world.
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Your child has an Anxiety Disorder or Selective Mutism, and would feel more comfortable sharing through art
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If your child or teen doesn't yet have the vocabulary to describe their feelings and emotions. Art therapy is a tool that can help children and teens fully express their feelings.
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Your child or teen had a bad experience with a previous type of therapy. They may be willing to express these feelings artistically
Creative Sky Psychology
Our team of Child Psychologists are located in Calgary, Alberta. We support children and teens with ADHD, ASD, Anxiety, OCD, and Depression. We use art as a therapeutic tool to build strength and resiliency. We provide assessments for individuals of all ages at Creative Sky Psychology. Our Assessment Psychologists provides both clinical and educational assessments. Our Psychologists support individuals from a strength-based model and provide unique coping strategies. Please call for an initial consultation or book online.
Creative Sky Psychology
Providing specialized Psychology Services in Child Psychology, Teen Psychology, Adult Psychology, Parent Support and Assessments